Fan bearing retaining structure

ABSTRACT

A fan bearing retaining structure includes a fan base seat having a bearing cup having a bearing hole. An inner circumferential wall of the bearing hole is formed with at least one restriction section and at least one recessed section. At least one elastic member and at least one retainer member are respectively positioned at the restriction section and the recessed section. A bearing is positioned between the elastic member and the retainer member. The elastic member serves to provide elastic force to tightly attach the bearing to the retainer member. Under such circumstance, the bearing is prevented from rotating or sliding within the bearing hole so as to avoid wear or failure of the bearing. Accordingly, the rotor assembly can smoothly operate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a fan bearing retaining structure, which is able to prevent the bearings from rotating or sliding within the bearing hole so as to avoid wear or failure of the bearings.

2. Description of the Related Art

Along with the advance of sciences and technologies, the operation performances of the electronic components have become higher and higher. Accordingly, higher and higher heat dissipation efficiency of the heat dissipation unit is required for the electronic components.

With a computer mainframe taken as an example, most of the heat is generated by the central processing unit (CPU) of the computer mainframe. In the case that the heat is not dissipated in time, the temperature of the CPU will rise to cause deterioration of the execution performance of the CPU. When the heat accumulates to an extent higher than the tolerance limit, the computer will crash or even burn out. Moreover, in order to solve the problem of electromagnetic radiation, the computer mainframe is generally enclosed in a computer case.

Therefore, it has become a critical issue how to quickly dissipate the heat generated by the CPU and other heat generation components.

On the other hand, an ordinary large-scale electronic device such as a working station or a server will generate high heat in operation. When the operation temperature exceeds a certain working temperature, the working performance of the working station or server will be affected at high temperature. In some more serious cases, the electronic components in the working station or server may burn out to cause malfunction. The temporary crush or burnout of the working station or server will lead to great loss, especially in the case that many databases or files are stored in the working station or server. Therefore, it is a very important link of setup of the working station or server how to efficiently dissipate the heat and keep the temperature within the range of working temperature.

Accordingly, currently, high-performance heat dissipation unit has become one of the most important focuses of research and development in this field. The heat generation electronic components are provided with the heat dissipation unit for dissipating the heat generated by the electronic components. In general, the heat dissipation unit includes a heat sink or radiating fin assembly and a cooling fan mounted thereon for dissipating the heat.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a sectional assembled view of a conventional cooling fan. The conventional cooling fan 1 includes a base seat 11, a rotor assembly 12 and a stator assembly 13. The base seat 11 has a bearing cup 111 in which two bearings 112 are disposed. By means of the tolerance fit between the bearings 112 and the inner diameter of the bearing cup 111, the bearings 112 can be disposed in the bearing cup 111 without slipping out of the bearing cup 111. The stator assembly 13 is fitted around the bearing cup 111. The rotor assembly 12 includes a hub 121, multiple fan blades 122 and a shaft rod 123. The shaft rod 123 is inserted in the bearings 112. When the cooling fan 1 operates, the shaft rod 123 of the rotor assembly 12 is rotated relative to the bearings 112. However, the bearings 112 are not located by any means. Therefore, when the shaft rod 123 is rotated relative to the bearings 112, the bearings 112 will be affected by the shaft rod 123 to rotate or slide. Moreover, after a long period of operation of the cooling fan 1, the bearings 112 and the bearing cup 111 will wear to produce chips or powders. This may lead to failure of the bearings 112 and unsmoothness of operation of the rotor assembly 12.

According to the above, the conventional cooling fan has the following shortcomings:

1. The bearings will be affected by the shaft rod to rotate or slide.

2. The bearings and the bearing cup will wear to produce chips or powders.

3. The bearings will fail and the rotor assembly can hardly smoothly operate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a fan bearing retaining structure, which is able to prevent the bearings from rotating or sliding within the bearing hole so as to avoid wear or failure of the bearings.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the above fan bearing retaining structure, which enables the rotor assembly to smoothly operate.

To achieve the above and other objects, the fan bearing retaining structure of the present invention includes a fan base seat, a stator assembly and a rotor assembly. The fan base seat has a bearing cup on one side. The bearing cup has an internal bearing hole. An inner circumferential wall of the bearing hole is formed with at least one restriction section and at least one recessed section. At least one elastic member and at least one retainer member are disposed in the bearing hole and respectively correspondingly positioned at the restriction section and the recessed section. A bearing is positioned between the elastic member and the retainer member. The stator assembly is fitted around the bearing cup. The rotor assembly includes multiple blades and a shaft. The shaft is rotatably disposed in the bearing hole and fitted through the bearing. The elastic member serves to provide elastic force to tightly attach the bearing to the retainer member. Under such circumstance, the bearing is prevented from rotating or sliding within the bearing hole so as to avoid wear or failure of the bearing. Accordingly, the rotor assembly can smoothly operate.

According to the above, the present invention has the following advantages:

1. The bearing is prevented from rotating or sliding within the bearing hole.

2. The wear or failure of bearing is avoided.

3. The rotor assembly can smoothly operate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional assembled view of a conventional cooling fan;

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a sectional assembled view of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of circled area of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is a sectional assembled view of a second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of circled area of FIG. 4A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B. FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A is a sectional assembled view of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of circled area of FIG. 3A. According to the first embodiment, the fan bearing retaining structure of the present invention includes a fan base seat 2, a stator assembly 3 and a rotor assembly 4. The fan base seat 2 has a bearing cup 21 on one side. The bearing cup 21 has a top section 211 and a bottom section 212. The bearing cup 21 further has an internal bearing hole 213 in communication with the top section 211 and the bottom section 212. An inner circumferential wall of the bearing hole 213 is formed with at least one restriction section 214 and at least one recessed section 215. At least one elastic member 22 and at least one retainer member 23 and at least one bearing 24 are disposed in the bearing cup 21. The elastic member 22 is correspondingly disposed on the restriction section 214, while the retainer member 23 is correspondingly disposed in the recessed section 215. The bearing 24 is positioned between the elastic member 22 and the retainer member 23.

The stator assembly 3 is fitted around the bearing cup 21. The stator assembly 3 includes multiple windings 31 and at least one silicon steel sheet 32. The windings 31 are wound around the silicon steel sheet 32.

The rotor assembly 4 is fitted on the fan base seat 2. The rotor assembly 4 includes multiple blades 41 and a shaft 42. The shaft 42 is rotatably disposed in the bearing hole 213 and fitted through the bearing 24.

In this embodiment, the inner circumference of the top section 211 of the bearing cup 21 is formed with a restriction section 214 and a recessed section 215 and the inner circumference of the bottom section 212 of the bearing cup 21 is also formed with a restriction section 214 and a recessed section 215. That is, the inner circumferential wall of the bearing hole 213 at the top section 211 is formed with a restriction section 214 and a recessed section 215. The elastic member 22 is disposed in the bearing hole 213 with one side of the elastic member 22 abutting against the restriction section 214. The bearing 24 is disposed in the bearing hole 213 and positioned on the other side of the elastic member 22. The retainer member 23 is disposed in the bearing hole 213 and retained in the recessed section 215 so as to locate the bearing 24 between the elastic member 22 and the retainer member 23.

In addition, the inner circumferential wall of the bearing hole 213 at the bottom section 212 is formed with a restriction section 214 and a recessed section 215.

Another elastic member 22 is disposed in the bearing hole 213 with one side of the elastic member 22 abutting against the restriction section 214 of the bottom section 212. Another bearing 24 is disposed in the bearing hole 213 and positioned on the other side of the elastic member 22. Another retainer member 23 is disposed in the bearing hole 213 and retained in the recessed section 215 of the bottom section 212 so as to locate the other bearing 24 between the elastic member 22 and the retainer member 23 of the bottom section 212.

When assembled, the shaft 42 of the rotor assembly 4 is rotatably disposed in the bearing hole 213 and fitted through the retainer member 23 and the bearing 24 and the elastic member 22 of the top section 211 and then fitted through the retainer member 23 and the bearing 24 and the elastic member 22 of the bottom section 212. Accordingly, when the shaft 42 of the rotor assembly 4 is rotated relative to the bearings 24, the elastic members 22 provide elastic force to tightly attach the bearings 24 to the retainer members 23. Under such circumstance, the bearings 24 are prevented from rotating or sliding within the bearing hole 213 so as to avoid wear or failure of the bearings 24. Accordingly, the rotor assembly 4 can smoothly operate.

Please now refer to FIGS. 4A and 4B. FIG. 4A is a sectional assembled view of a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of circled area of FIG. 4A. The second embodiment is substantially identical to the first embodiment in component, connection relationship between the components and operation and thus will not be repeatedly described hereinafter. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the elastic members 22 are springs 216 (as shown in FIG. 4B). In the second embodiment, the inner circumferential wall of the bearing hole 213 at the top section 211 is formed with a restriction section 214 and a recessed section 215 and the inner circumferential wall of the bearing hole 213 at the bottom section 212 is also formed with a restriction section 214 and a recessed section 215. When assembled, the shaft 42 of the rotor assembly 4 is rotatably disposed in the bearing hole 213 and fitted through the retainer member 23 and the bearing 24 and the spring 216 of the top section 211 and then fitted through the retainer member 23 and the bearing 24 and the spring 216 of the bottom section 212. Accordingly, when the shaft 42 of the rotor assembly 4 is rotated relative to the bearings 24, the springs 216 provide elastic force to tightly attach the bearings 24 to the retainer members 23. Under such circumstance, the bearings 24 are prevented from rotating or sliding within the bearing hole 213 so as to avoid wear or failure of the bearings 24. Accordingly, the rotor assembly 4 can smoothly operate.

The present invention has been described with the above embodiments thereof and it is understood that many changes and modifications in the above embodiments can be carried out without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention that is intended to be limited only by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fan bearing retaining structure comprising: a fan base seat having a bearing cup on one side, the bearing cup having a bearing hole, an inner circumferential wall of the bearing hole being formed with at least one restriction section and at least one recessed section, at least one elastic member and at least one retainer member being disposed in the bearing hole and respectively correspondingly positioned at the restriction section and the recessed section, a bearing being positioned between the elastic member and the retainer member; a stator assembly fitted around the bearing cup; and a rotor assembly including multiple blades and a shaft, the shaft being rotatably disposed in the bearing hole and fitted through the bearing.
 2. The fan bearing retaining structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bearing cup has a top section and a bottom section.
 3. The fan bearing retaining structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the inner circumferential wall of the bearing hole is formed with two restriction sections and two recessed sections, one of the restriction sections being formed on the inner circumferential wall of the bearing hole at the top section, while the other of the restriction sections being formed on the inner circumferential wall of the bearing hole at the bottom section, one of the recessed sections being formed on the inner circumferential wall of the bearing hole at the top section, while the other of the recessed sections being formed on the inner circumferential wall of the bearing hole at the bottom section.
 4. The fan bearing retaining structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaft is rotatably disposed in the bearing hole and fitted through the elastic member and the retainer member.
 5. The fan bearing retaining structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stator assembly includes multiple windings and at least one silicon steel sheet, the windings being wound around the silicon steel sheet. 